Watchcase



March 22, 1932. c RYLAN D 1,850,216

WATCHCASE Filed June 14,. 192

Patented Mar. 22, 1932 UNEFED gAiS F FFEQE WATCHGASE Application filed June 14, 1926, Serial No. 116,019, and in Great Britain June 22, 1925.

The object of this invention, is to provide means by which the wearer of a watch may change the appearance, shape or color of a watch, without fear of damage to the hands or dial whereas the known method of fitting the glass to a snap or screw on bezel, leaves the dial and hands unprotected when the front bezel with the glass is removed, owing to the dial being flush or above the edge of the J case.

To do this I provide a protecting flange or bezel or both, round the dial and to which I prefer to provide a glass cover, which not only protects the dial and hands, but keeps them free from dust, when the front section is detached.

The said protecting flange may be made in one with or attached to either the case or the movement and made in a suitable manner so as to allow the glass to be renewed without disturbing the dial. then provide a front ornamental member of the desired design which is fitted to the case easily, but not loosely and in such a manner as to be easily removed and replaced by another ornamental member of a different design; for example; a diamond studded circle may be removed and replaced by a plain gold circle without removing the glass protection for the hands.

" The front ornamental member may be held in position with a spring snap or snaps or the like, working in a groove or hole, in the front member or in the case, so that the front memher may be put on or released with a partial turn, or it may be provided with a bayonet fitting, or fitted friction tight or provided with a screw thread on the case or to the protecting flange or in any other suitable manner,

[ but would be preferable, fitted with a suitable locking device to prevent loss, and for easy removal by an inexperienced wearer; eX- amples of which are shown in the accomp anying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of watch case constructed according to the invention with the front ornamental member in the detached position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but of anm other form of the invention.

" Fig. 3 IS a constructional detail of the form shown in Fig. 2, detached and in plan to a smaller scale.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but of still another form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the front ornamental member shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is aconstructional detail of the form shown in Fig. a, detached and in plan to a larger scale.

Fig. 7 is an exterior elevation of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 showing one of the knuckles g and one of the slots 9'.

Fig. 8 is a detail plan of the same.

Fig. 1 gives a sectional view of a round watch case it with the protecting flange a for the dial a, this flange being the means by which the glass (Z is held in position. The front ornamental member Z) is shown with a screw thread 6, which fits the screw thread 0 on the case it; spare fronts would naturally be fitted with screw threads in a similar manner. The centre opening in the front flange b is made to fit flush with the fitting a when in position, but it may overlap the glass, in fact, become a full hunter or hunter watch, if desired, and so become a protective as well as an ornamental member. The knuckles (or hinges) to which a bracelet or wrist et may be attached are marked 9.

Fig. 2 shows a watch case similar to Fig. l but with another means of attaching the front ornamental member via, the knuckles g are provided with extending pieces 6 (like the snap of a spring front watch case) which engage with a groove or slot 6 in the front ornamental member Z) when the latter is in position. The case it is provided with slots for the knuckles g to slide in and to assist the knuckles to act instantaneously a suitable spring J(see Fig. is fitted. The manner in which the front ornamental member would be removed is by pressure of thumb and finger on the two knuckles a In wear the tension of the bracelet worn-d be an added security for the front ornamental member Z). The snaps 6 may vary in design. For example, a ball bearing might be used, with a hole in section b, or the snaps may be made in one with the spring member J.

Fig. & illustrates a watch case similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2, but with the flange a slight-1y spaced from the outer periphery of the case h, the glass being held in position by the fitting a and the front ornamental member I), may be made the full depth of the watch and provided with dove-tail shaped slots 9 Fig. 5, to fit over the knuckles g; the the latter, as will be noted in Fig. 6, are

shaped so that the narrow part will lock the 7 member I) in position, and the wide part,

when the knuckles are pressed, will permit the seating of the knuckles in position. The

knuckles 9 may be self sprung or fitted with spiral springs 9 (Fig. 6) the latter being in turn fitted with small guiding sheaths 9 The watch movements may be fitted by the ordinary methods, viz., friction tight or fixed with two flange screws or as desired.

It is clearly understood that this invention ,is primarily for wristlet and bracelet watches of any shape and that it may also be applied to larger watchesfor example, a fl -hunter pocket watch, with the usual spring front, may easily be adapted by providing another spring snap in the place usually occupied by the hinge, also that in some cases a glass may be fitted in the front member for use with a protecting flange for the dial and hands, but the methods illustrated are preferred.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is V 1. A watch case comprising an opentopped casing for the movement, which includes a dial, a protecting flange member arranged at the open top of the casing and to extend around the dial, a glass carried by the flange, an outer cover member detachably attached to the casing for overlapping the dial protecting fiange when in position, and cooperating fastening means partly carried by the casing and partly by the detachable outer cover member for holding said cover member in position.

:2. A watch case comprising an opentopped casing for the movement, which includes a dial, a protecting flange member arranged at the open top of the casing and to extend around the dial, a glass carried by the flange, an outer cover member detachably attached to the casing for overlapping the ,dial protecting flange when in position, cooperating fastening means partly carried by the casing and partly by the detachable outer cover member for holding said cover member in posit-ion, and spring means for maintaining the parts of the cooperating fastening means in engagement.

In witness whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES FREDERICK RYLAND. 

